UH Hilo Sustainability Blog

UH Hilo is committed to being a good steward of the environment. We seek to improve the efficiency and reduce the ecological impact of operations in whatever ways are practical. As this blog develops, we intend to document the accomplishments, efforts and happenings on campus and surrounding our campus community.

If you have suggestions for sustainability activities at UH Hilo, please contact the Sustainability Chair.

Leaving a minimal foot print is ideal when it comes to sustainability practice. It is important to acknowledge this here in Hawaiʻi, as the most secluded landmass on earth.

The world is demanding our attention through pronounced temperature changes and sea level rises around the world. We have seen more environmental disasters in recent years than ever before, bringing us closer to a threshold impact on the earthʻs systems. It is no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when.

It is up to us as the leaders of future generations to change our wasteful habits.

For a solution to be truly sustainable, it must have a positive return to environment and society. This semester, Norman Arancon, associate professor of horticulture, has introduced a course that is structured and provided opportunity to do just that. Prof. Arancon has designed his course, AG 294 (Agricultural Waste Management: Composting and Vermicomposting) as a co-curricular organization, to take lead on a pilot waste management program on our University of Hawai‘i at Hilo campus. (more…)

“Food waste and recycling, baseline accounting to measure progress, energy reduction measures, and ways of better engaging the campus community to participate in sustainability efforts were discussed at statewide summit….”

An international design challenge has been launched to rehabilitate a critical Oʻahu watershed that contains one of the nation’s most polluted bodies of water. During the September IUCN World Conservation Congress, University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner announced the Make the Ala Wai Awesome Student Design Challenge, with up to $10,000 in total prize money for the winning entries.

“We are seeking ideas from the brightest young minds around the world to help us envision an inspiring, large-scale, systems thinking approach towards comprehensive ecosystem restoration of the Ala Wai watershed,” Lassner said. “This competition should generate creative integrated approaches that address flood mitigation, ecosystem restoration and preservation, community engagement, cultural connections, public private partnerships and improvement of the visitor experience.”